SMA Newsletter

SMA Newsletter • January 25, 2024

Mission Statement

St. Martin of Tours Academy fosters confidence, curiosity, and independence through a climate of cooperation and trust by preserving dignity throughout the learning process, accentuating all children’s God-given gifts in a Catholic environment.

Dear SMA Community,

This has been quite the week with the heavy rains on Monday. We fared well considering the damage La Mesa schools endured. Please keep the faculty and students at St. John of the Cross (Lemon Grove) in your prayers. Their campus is closed for at least one month as they complete repairs. Damage sustained at St. Martin's preschool and academy is being addressed and covered properly. Please excuse our "mess" as you tour classrooms Sunday.

We are so excited for Catholic Schools Week 2024 is here! Everyone is invited to the 9am Sunday Mass, (wear Mass uniform) 5th grade bake sale and Open House at the academy and preschool. Please invite your friends.

Monday we honor First responders and military families. Please sign up here so we may introduce you. Don't forget to come to the Talent Show on Tuesday in the parish hall at 1 pm. Meet Bishop Pham on Thursday at 10 am, and enjoy Lunch on the Lawn at 11 am. Remember to purchase your tickets for the Family Valentine Dance on Friday. Detailed information is below!

It's not too late to sign up for the unique opportunity to teach a specific skill or talk about your trade/life skills in your child's classroom. Sign up HERE.

Please respond below to the brief survey regarding re-registration intent (plus hot lunch and minimum days). 45 responders so far!!

We love our volunteers!! Thank you to David Blas and friend who replaced SpartanCare stairs and completed other "honey-do" items and to Royce and Hope Chandler who relocated a concrete curb and added yellow paint to make another walkway safer.

Tomorrow is a Teacher Professional Work day and there is NO school. See you Sunday at 9 am!

**CALENDAR CORRECTION** - Holy Thursday, March 28 is a half day. Please make a note on your calendars. The entire campus (including SpartanCare) will close at 12 pm on this holy day.

Blessings,

Jennifer Miller, Principal

CELEBRATING CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

January 28 - February 2

Sunday, 1/28 - Celebrate Parish

• 9 am school sponsored Mass with an Open House at 10 am. Enjoy a bake sale hosted by 5th grade after 7 & 9 am morning Masses. Please wear Mass uniform.

Monday 1/29 Celebrate Community

• 8 am assembly honoring first responders, military, community leaders. We are inviting parents and community members to be recognized- Sign up HERE.

• Donations for Fresh Start in La Mesa are being collected: new socks, deodorant, toothpaste, tooth brush, scarves, sample-sized shampoo or hand sanitizer, soap, granola bars. Bins will be in front of school.

Tuesday 1/30 Celebrate Students

• Jeans for Jesus $1 and class color shirts

• Big Friends/Little Friends read together

• Talent Show 1-2:30 pm (parish hall)

Wednesday 1/31 Celebrating Nation

• Cultural Heritage Day - students may wear clothing representative of their family's national heritage and share

bite-sized food samples representing their family's heritage.

Thursday, 2/1 Celebrate Vocations

• Enjoy time with Aux. Bishop Pham in the parish hall from 10-11 am (grs.3-8 & all parents welcome).

• 11:05-11:45 am- Lunch with a Loved One on the lawn (bring a blanket or chair)

Friday 2/2 Celebrate Faculty, Staff, Volunteers

• Silly socks day!

• Family Valentine's Dance 6-8 pm in the Parish Hall. Tickets are $35 per family. Pizza & drink will be sold for $2. Proceeds for Student Council activities.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Volunteer Sign Up Genius for dance

• Sign up to go to their child's classroom to teach a specific skill or talk about their trade/life skills. Volunteers sign up HERE

RE-REGISTRATION 2024-2025

February 19 - 29th

PLEASE COMPLETE THE SURVEY BELOW!

Click on the picture or HERE to complete the Intent to Return form.

Re-registration will open February 19th and will occur through FACTS. Tuition assistance is open and closes on March 31st. Registration fees are discounted $100 if registering during the re-registration window. Fees will be charged via FACTS. New this year: Active Duty Military Discount! Inquire in school office.

If you have an incoming kindergartener or older sibling, they are given first priority. Kindergarteners must be 5 years old by Sept. 1st. For first priority, students must be registered by March 1st.

A referring family receives free registration as our "thank you" when referred families complete their first trimester at SMA.

Registration fees:

Registration is discounted ($300 total per child) through 2/29 Families registering after the re-registration window will pay $400 through 3/1 and $450 after 3/1.

FACTS GRANT AND AID

Families are encouraged to apply for tuition assistance if family income is not sufficient to meet the total cost of a St. Martin of Tours Academy education. FACTS conducts a fair and confidential financial need assessments for families. There is a $35 processing fee. Applications are processed according to need from January 5, 2024 through March 31, 2024. Click HERE to learn and apply for aid.

SPRING SPORTS - Coaches Needed!

(volunteer opportunity!)

• JV&V Girls Basketball • JV&V Boys Soccer

• Boys and Girls PEEWEE Basketball (grades 3 & 4)

Season starts mid March.

Please email Rosalie Covey if you are interested: Atheletics@stmartinacademy.org

Thank you for supporting the Missions!

Families donated a total of $555.97 for the Missionary Childhood Association

Advent Outreach Program.

Thank you for dining at Rubios!

Thank you to all the families who dined at Rubios on 11/16. Rubios donated 30% of sales for a total of 181.64. Proceeds went towards the Decathlon and general fund.

USD Basketball Game

USD is hosting a Catholic Schools day on February 17th for both their women's and men's basketball games. Blake (8th) and Ava (7th) will be singing in the All Star Choir!

CLICK HERE FOR TICKET ORDERS